Does 2-3-2 format tarnish NBA Finals?

ASK IRA:

A: It depends on your priorities. If the ultimate concern is competitive fairness, then yes. Just think of this series, that in the 2-2-1-1-1 basis used in all other rounds, the Heat merely would have to split the next two games for a chance to close out at home. Now it's either win Games 4 and 5, or have to close out on the road. Similarly, under this format, the Thunder may not make it back home, where in any other round, even with one win in the first four games, the higher seed team is assured another home game. But if it's about television ratings and media coverage, then reducing travel allows for greater coverage. To a degree, it seems that the NBA is putting more emphasis on its breakthrough television ratings in this series than what's transpiring on the court.

Q: This team has a tendency to relax when they have the advantage. It happened last year in the Finals. Have they learned their lesson? -- Jeffrey.

A: They're talking that talk at the moment, Tuesday at 9 p.m. we'll see if they will walk a new walk.

Q: Was that dumb luck that LeBron James spent the offseason working out with Kevin Durant, or did they know something the rest of didn't know last summer? -- Stuart.

A: They knew that if they didn’t keep up with each other, one could have a decided advantage at this time of year. But that sort of kinship also takes some of the edginess away from what we usually have at this time of year.

Q: One way to slow down Dwyane Wade's turnovers late in games is to have James bring the ball up the court. -- Marty.

A: But that's the thing, whenever something goes wrong, the answer is always LeBron. It's almost like being back in Cleveland, were he's being asked to do everything. No, Dwyane has no excuse for those two midcourt turnovers in the waning seconds of Games 3 and 4.

Q: Is it safe to say the Joel Anthony experiment is over? -- Alex.

A: No, it's sort of same as it ever was, that Joel Anthony is good enough in the middle during the regular season, before individual matchups are considered for the playoffs.